Asanas​ – Physical Posture

Asanas are the physical postures and exercises commonly known as Yoga in the Western world. I practice and teach traditional, calm and static Hatha Yoga (Kaivalyadhama Institute resp. Himalayan Tradition of Yoga), recommended for beginners of any age or fitness level, as well as more modern styles like flowing and dynamic Ashtanga (Vinyasa) Yoga. This way I’m able to perfectly adapt the exercises to the group I’m working with - from simple physical postures for new practitioners to demanding exercises for advanced students.

Kriyas​ – Cleansing Techniques

Kriyas are less known yogic cleansing techniques, with which different areas of the physical body such as the lungs, stomach and intestines. These exercises vary from simple Kriyas that can be applied in everyday life to more extensive and severe Kriyas recommended only twice a year. Those Kriyas are taught by the Kaivalyadhama Institute or the Himalayan Tradition of Yoga.

Pranayama​ – Breathing Techniques

Once the physical body and the mind are cleansed and calmed by Asanas and Kriyas practitioners can start with special breathing techniques according to the old scriptures. Besides the practice of breath awareness, there are eight different Pranayama-techniques (see Hatha Pradipika), which all aim at different goals (activation, relaxation, warming up, cooling down, balance...) – they are the most important preliminary stages for meditation. Pranayama is recommended for all those who want to find balance in their energy levels through the path of breath.

Meditation Techniques

The ultimate goal of all Yoga practices is to one day be able to sit still and content in meditation, the highest form of which is called “enlightenment” (sanskrit Samadhi) in Yoga-Philosophy. Through Asanas and Kriyas the body becomes quiet, through Pranayama the breath and in meditation the mind and its thoughts become still. “Yoga is the cessation of modifications of the mind... at that time the seer rests in her/his own state” (see Yoga Sutras).

Kalarippayat or Kalari Payattu is a South Indian healing technique and martial art (Kerala and Tamil Nadu). A centuries old tradition, it was practiced by the warrior caste, Kshatriyas, in each village (at the Kalari). Ayurveda and Yoga exerted great influence on this practice. Although Kalarippayat has survived the British colony it is not practiced that often anymore.

The practice consists of various leg exercises and animal postures that are practiced as a warm up, followed by more complex sequences made up of smooth and flowing movements. In the tradition more advanced students will learn the fightinh component of Kalarippayat, using weapons provided by the teacher, or guru.

I’ts possible to book single or group sessions as well as combinations with Yoga and/or Nuad, please just contact me!

Nuad bedeutet eigentlich „heilsame Berührung“ und wird oft als (Thai-)Yoga-Körperarbeit bezeichnet, oder auch als passives Yoga erklärt. Es ist ein System der Körperarbeit mit buddhistischem Hintergrund, das seinen Ursprung eigentlich auch in Indien, im Ayurveda und Yoga, hat. Nuad hat zum Ziel den Körper zu lockern und zu entspannen, sodass Verspannungen verschwinden und die Energie wieder frei fließen kann. So hat es einen sehr restaurativen Charakter.

A Nuad treatment takes approximately two hours, is performed in a one on one setting, lying clothed on the floor. Nuad is the ideal supplement to Yoga and Kalarippayat. Before the first session there will be a short talk.

Of course, my Nuad knowledge also flows into my Yoga or Kalaripayattu classes – and vice versa.